Man Plants Thousands Of Trees In Honor Of His Wife, 17 Years Later Secret Revealed In Aerial Photo

inspire by
Cailyn Finkel 6/28/2017

As soon as Janet and Winston Howes met they fell madly in love. The handsome couple married in 1962, moved into a quaint farm home in rural England and started working on building a family of their very own.

Shortly after moving to the wide open fields of Wickwar, Gloucestershire, Janet gave birth to their son and their life was truly a dream. Then the unthinkable happened....

After 33 years of marriage, Janet passed of a heart failure in 1995 when she was just 50 years old. Winston and their son were left to try to heal - but no matter what they did, life just wasn't the same without her.

In the months following, an idea started to form in Winston's mind. He thought of a brilliant way to honor his late wife and it all had to do with the meadow by their home she loved so deeply.

Winston's secret tribute remained hidden away for years until a hot air balloonist named Andy Collett flew over their rural home. During a seemingly normal flight, Andy came across a giant heart carved into the tree-filled meadow.

In an interview with Daily Mail UK, Andy shared what he thought the moment he flew over the heart.

"I have my own balloon and am quite a regular flyer, but this was the most amazing sight I have ever seen from the sky. It was a perfect heart hidden away from view - you would not know it was there.

You can just imagine the love story."

While there was no way for Andy to know Winston and Janet's background, he was spot on about the love they shared.

Winston told Daily Mail UK why he decided to plant the trees and the special little details that he made sure were put in place.

"I thought it was a great idea - it was a flash of inspiration - and I planted several thousand oak trees. Once it was completed we put a seat in the field, overlooking the hill near where she used to live....

We planted large oak trees around the edge of the heart then decided to put a hedge around it too. The heart points towards Wotton Hill, where Janet is from. We plant daffodils in the middle that come up in the spring - it looks great.

I go out there from time to time and sit in the seat I created."

Nothing can even bring Janet back, but this incredible heart is a way to remember her and reflect on all of the good times they shared!

Check out Winston's heartwarming tribute to Janet here!

We know Janet is looking down on Winston from Heaven and smiling at her loving husband.